§ Mr. HardyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice was given by Her Majesty's Government during the consideration of policy relating to the Council of Europe proposals in regard to pet animals; and what is official policy on this matter. [27916]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe United Kingdom is not a party to the Council of Europe convention for the protection of pet animals, and no decisions have been taken on whether it would be right to accede to the convention. In deciding this issue, the Government will take full account, among other considerations, of the potential consequences of the resolutions agreed at the recent multilateral consultation of parties to the convention.